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Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha, quoting the Bhagavad Gita, says that Nistha has two facets-Karma Nistha and Jnana Nistha. Nistha is a principle,a set of values that governs all our activities in life. The complete resignation to the thought and process of devotion is called bhakti niṣṭā. Jñānaniṣṭā is where one is completely given to wisdom, jñāna. The qualities of niṣṭā are always relating to the mind and intelligence. A human being must have Nishtha in his life. There must be a convergence in him, and no waywardness. Without Nistha, life will not be harmonious.

Bhagavad Gita says that a seeker must become the Soul, he must revel and rejoice in the Soul and never fall from the Knowledge or realization. From then on, his life must be guided by chance or providence. This becomes a true Nishtha for a seeker or a renunciate.

Similarly for a gṛhastha (householer), his niṣṭā is to ensure the welfare of the members of the family. When the time comes, he should take to renunciation which is an obligation in order to fulfill one’s own life in this world.

Shlokas chanted in the Track:

लोकेऽस्मिन् द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ ।
ज्ञानयोगेन साङ्ख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ॥
Bhagavad Gita 3.3

निष्ठा ज्ञानस्य या परा ।।
Bhagavad Gita 18.50

नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित् ।
पश्यञ्श्रृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपञ्श्वसन् ।।
प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि ।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ।।
Bhagavad Gita 5.8 & 9

PR 30 Jun 2011